Pedro Martinez teases David Ortiz comeback, but it's not happening

The Boston Red Sox’s offense hasn’t been as explosive this year. After ranking near the top of the league in many offensive categories in 2016, the team’s bats are about middle of the pack this season.

What’s changed? Well, the most obvious difference is that superstar designated hitter David Ortiz isn’t around anymore. The 41-year-old Ortiz retired after a lengthy farewell tour last year, and, to borrow a famous phrase from another Boston sports team, “ain’t walking through that door.”

At least, that’s what everyone thought until one tweet by Pedro Martinez sent shockwaves through the baseball universe.

Big Papi is working out, and I know he is in baseball shape, and the @RedSox could use a bit of his bat.

Martinez wasn’t exactly reporting anything there, but he did put the phrases “Big Papi,” working out,” baseball shape,” Red Sox,” and “could use a bit of his bat” in one sentence. Given Martinez’s relationship with Ortiz, and his status as an occasional television analyst, some Red Sox fans started dreaming of a reunion.

No, David Ortiz is not going to return to baseball any time soon. The whole thing was a false alarm. We know it sounds crazy, but it’s possible some baseball fans may have overreacted to something they desperately want to believe.